Hourieh Seyed Ahmadnia

As of April 16th, 2011, Hourieh / Mahta has become a new member to Iranian American Community Alliance Board of Directors. Mahta has been an active leader for Persian Circle Student Association at the University of Washington and has been a volunteer for multiple IACA events. She is a graduating senior at the University of Washington double majoring in Community, Environment, & Planning (CEP) and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization (NELC) with minor in Architecture.
Even though she was born in Iran and moved to Seattle at the age of 11,  she has very well assimilated to the American culture while remaining connected to her heritage and culture; which can be seen through her communal involvement away from her home country.

It was just recently that Mahta realized not only she is Iranian, but she can be referred to as an American, bringing her to the concept of being an Iranian-American. This analysis derived as a result of her CEP senior project of planning a Persian New Year Celebration-Nowruz in raising awareness about Persian Culture at UW campus as well as Nickelsville Homeless Shelter. The act of donating the proceeds from the event to Nickelsville, is considered as an act of giving within the days of Persian New Year, giving back to a community that partakes within a society that has helped formulate who Mahta is now.

Mahta is very optimistic for the journey which IACA is undertaking as a whole and the impact it is making in the lives of individuals with immersing both Iranian and American communities with love and positivity.